Amit Shah hails 258 Naxal surrenders, declares Naxalism “breathing its last”

In a major development against left-wing extremism (LWE), a total of 258 Naxalites have surrendered in the past two days across Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the move, describing it as evidence that Naxalism is “breathing its last” under the Narendra Modi-led government’s sustained efforts.

In a post on X, Shah detailed the recent surrenders: “Today, 170 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh. Yesterday, 27 laid down their arms in the state. In Maharashtra, 61 returned to the mainstream yesterday. I applaud their decision to renounce violence and place trust in the Constitution of India.”

Shah emphasized the government’s dual approach: welcoming those who wish to surrender while maintaining a strong stance against those continuing armed activities. He appealed to remaining Naxalites to lay down their weapons and rejoin society, reaffirming the government’s goal of eliminating Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

Highlighting progress in Chhattisgarh, Shah noted that regions like Abujhmaad and North Bastar, once strongholds of Naxal activity, are now free from terror. “Currently, only South Bastar remains affected, which will soon be cleared by our security forces,” he added. Since January 2024, following the BJP government’s formation in Chhattisgarh, 2,100 Naxalites have surrendered, 1,785 have been arrested, and 477 eliminated.

Maharashtra also witnessed a historic surrender when Naxal commander Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Bhupati, along with nearly 60 others, laid down arms at the Gadchiroli Police Headquarters in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Bhupati had insisted on surrendering only in the presence of the Chief Minister, marking one of the largest such events in the state’s history.

Shah called these developments a “historic milestone” in India’s fight against left-wing extremism. He noted that the number of most-affected districts has decreased from six to three, while the total number of affected districts has fallen from 18 to 11.

Under Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a terror-free India, Shah highlighted the government’s twin strategy of relentless counter-insurgency operations and people-centric development programs, which have significantly curtailed the influence and reach of left-wing extremists. “By March 31, 2026, India will be free from the menace of Naxalism,” he affirmed.